My two cents worth, since you asked !
Future looks great, if you consider why
( from a civilian point of view !!).
Companies don't care about you, so the attraction for "newcomers" is zip, zero,nada.
First you have to get the money to pay for flighttraining, which in Europe just hit
app.us$90.000 to get a CPL(H)+IR(me) from scratch. Then you have to get a "first" job, since you have no experience. If you do get one, the guy who hired you probably will pay you less than McD, burger king an the likes !
So most candidates, looking into the scoop of things, decide....Nah, not worth it ! Then you have a few, that makes it, but realistically, there's not that many selfpropelled people to secure the helicopter industry's future. Millitary pay's 1/3 more than civilian, so why leave ? So the people left, that hasen't turned 55, will soon be able to ask any $$ from these (soon to be) people loving helicopter companies, that really, REALLY likes you, and will give you all the things, like pensions, more $$$$ etc,etc,etc. My guess is this will happen in about 3years time, when most of the small to medium operators have gone belly up, and no pilot will believe any offers unless there's a written contract, sign up bonus, fair working conditions, pension ( a real one )and FAIR PAY etc.
Cheers
